Chapter 601: Arena 2 and the Mage

Whoa!

Six effects?!

This is a remarkably powerful artifact!

Luo De's eyes lit up as he looked up toward the audience seats, where the Campbell family's masked figures sat.

He revealed a greedy smile.

Those individuals, dressed in fine attire and exuding an air of superiority, had expected to see Luo De lose composure; seeing instead his hunter's gaze fixed upon them, their expressions froze.

The dragonfly-masked figure immediately snapped: "Alderd! You go first—kill him!"

Carter, the Grand Leader seated nearby, frowned: "Mr. Dragonfly, just act. No need to delay."

"Grand Leader Carter, don't rush. Once he entered our arena, he has no chance of leaving. I hear he's been acting arrogantly lately—let us give you some relief."

The dragonfly-masked man's tone was surprisingly humble.

Yet the exposed lower half of his face still radiated arrogance and self-importance.

"."

Country fool.

In the arena.

"Luo De, I'll go first!"

The halfling Lily, a creature utterly unfamiliar with fear, stepped forward with gleaming eyes, eager to lead the charge.

Luo De raised an eyebrow: "Aren't you afraid you won't get out? This artifact seems quite potent."

"Are you afraid?"

"I'm not."

"Then neither am I. Even artifacts aren't flawless—especially ones affecting large areas. Their weaknesses are obvious."

"You sound like you've broken artifacts before," Luo De chuckled.

"Exactly."

Lily spoke calmly, "I've encountered this type of artifact at least five times—three of which I dismantled alone."

". So strong?"

The halfling girl smirked: "What? You can't handle it?"

Luo De glanced at his panel's 【Artifact Obsession】: "Naturally, I can."

"Then what's to fear? I'll go—"

But before she finished, a beam of light descended from the dome, engulfing her.

When she reappeared, she stood beside the seating in the waiting area.

Meanwhile.

A massive black spiritual character slowly formed in the sky.

——【Round One: 'Forester Luo De' vs. 'Bear Spirit Alderd'!】

Lily's triumphant expression faded, replaced by annoyance.

Luo De couldn't help smiling as he turned toward the towering figure now teleported to the arena center.

Covered in thick, dark-brown fur, muscles knotted like ropes, claws sharper than blades.

This was a Bear Spirit warrior.

The next instant.

A roar erupted from the audience—countless gnolls, snakefolk, and dogfolk, as if rehearsed, chanting Alderd's name in unison.

Then came streams of spiritual light, sinking into the Bear Spirit's body as he swelled further.

【Chant Target: Bear Spirit Alderd】

【Chanters: 264】

【'Audience Frenzy' Boost: Spiritual Art 'Raging Charge' enhanced by 2640%!】

【Chant Target: Forester Luo De】

【Chanters: 0】

【'Audience Frenzy' Boost: 0%】

"ROOOOAR!!!"

Alderd didn't just swell in size—his mind swelled too.

He bellowed skyward, spittle flying wildly.

CRASH!

The packed yellow earth cracked like spiderwebbing as his massive, mountain-like body surged forward at blinding speed.

His spiritual intensity, speed, and strength far surpassed his original seventh-rank peak.

"Hmph."

Luo De stomped forward.

BOOM!

The ground exploded open, fissures surging with earth, sending waves of shocking spiritual energy straight through the Bear Spirit's body.

【War Trample】!

Alderd froze mid-charge, muscles locking across limbs and torso.

Due to inertia, his entire body remained airborne.

Luo De, having activated his movement at just the right moment, met him head-on with the force of his charge.

His left hand yanked back violently, magma-like lines of 【Infernal Muscle】 sliding along his arm.

SPLAT!

The massive bear skull burst open like a watermelon.

Teleportation light descended again, engulfing Alderd's headless body, then reappearing in the audience seats.

Alderd landed with a thud beside the dragonfly-masked man.

Face twisted in terror, a stench of urine rose from between his legs.

"Next."

Luo De in the arena gave a thumbs-down toward the audience, his smile cold.

"Luo De, Luo De, so cool! Master, Master, so strong~~"

Lily crossed her arms, nodding coolly, pulling out a magic stone to replay the clip.

It was Tally's voice—no one knew when she'd recorded it with Lily.

The dragonfly-masked man's lips twitched; even half his face hidden, his pallor was unmistakably grim.

He turned to the towering gray-white-robed mage beside him.

"Mr. Vincent, I leave it to you."

"I'd like to see the one who drove off Asmodeil."

Vincent's voice was deep and muffled, like that of a very fat man.

Hum—

Teleportation light descended.

Master Vincent entered the arena.

The black spiritual characters in the sky rotated to display:

——【Round Two: 'Forester Luo De' vs. 'Mage Vincent'!】

【Chant Target: Mage Vincent】

【Chanters: 264】

【'Audience Frenzy' Boost: Mana Recovery enhanced by 2640%!】

【Chant Target: Fore.】

【Chant.】

【.】

"Mana recovery?"

Choosing this boost seemed odd under the current 【Audience Frenzy】 effect.

A more direct approach would be to enhance a specific spell or spiritual art, like with Alderd.

What use is mana recovery?

Luo De studied the towering mage with interest.

"Ninth rank?"

"When I heard Asmodeil was driven off by a human, I wondered which ninth-rank lingered in the real dimension—never expected it'd be a seventh-rank peak spiritual warrior."

Vincent shook his head, pulling down his hood.

His face was encased in white bone, only eyes, nostrils, and mouth exposed—like a living skull.

"Clearly, Asmodeil was tormented badly by that bitch Mystera."

Luo De raised an eyebrow, letting out an "Oh?"

"You're not connected to the Mana Web?"

"That device helps low-rank mages. For us ninth-ranks, it's merely an external crutch," Vincent sneered.

Luo De laughed outright:

"Do you truly look down on it, or are you too afraid to connect? At this stage, anyone who doesn't link to the Weave—aside from those few traitors who once sacrificed Mystra—I simply cannot imagine who else there could be."

These words clearly struck a nerve with the bone-faced mage.

His expression darkened as if water might drip from it.

He raised his right arm, and through his white robe emerged a staff forged from joined white bones.

Amid surging magic, a gray-white Ring of Truth appeared behind him.

"You think words are enough? Let me show you the power of a ninth-rank mage."

(End of Chapter)